Sewn cloth bag for storing plastic kitchen lids

ABSTRACT

A storage bag for the containment of the plastic lids of kitchenware containers commonly used in the storage of foodstuffs. The bag is fabricated from a series of fabric panels each panel folded back upon itself in a U-shape and sewn along the side such that the panels are thus joined and form together a plurality of open mouth pockets. The innermost pocket is formed of a solid fabric while the outermost panel is constructed of a mesh type fabric that extends over the plurality of open mouth pockets to form a flap that serves to secure the contents and while storing the bag in either a hanging inverted position by a grommet placed at a corner of the bag opposite the open mouths of the formed pockets, or on either side as would be the case in a kitchen cabinet or drawer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/358,180filed Feb. 5, 2003

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic containers used for the storage of foodstuffs are gaining inpopularity and are ubiquitous in most American kitchens. Thesecontainers are frequently stored with the lids unattached because oflimited storage space. While separating the lids from the containers maybe a prudent use of limited space, it makes it difficult to pair thecorrect lid to the container. A multiplicity of different manufacturerswith similar appearing containers complicates the issue, andadditionally, lids are often lost or misplaced rendering the matingbottom part of the container useless.

Various types of hanging-type pockets for the storage of different itemshave been described in the past: U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,535 to Cariello, etal., Pat. No. D487,635 to Collins, Pat. No. D291,754 to Griswold, Pat.No. D300,399 to Krugman and U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,389; but none have beendirected to the storage of plastic-ware lids, and none disclose a seriesof fabric panels folded back upon itself at least three times in aU-shape form, forming a plurality of open-top pockets, one in front ofthe other, and one behind the other; which is uniquely suited forstoring a great number of low profile items such as plastic lids in aspace conserving manner. Furthermore, past storage solutions beingbulky, preclude their being stored in a cupboard or kitchen drawer asthey are incapable of retaining their contents securely in this positionbecause of a lack of securing means.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sewn cloth storage bag with a series ofpockets formed by a unique and economic folding of fabric panelsdirected primarily to the storage of low profile containables such asplastic-ware lids associated with plastic containers commonly used tostore foodstuffs in the kitchen and includes an inner panel of a opaquefabric like material, and an outer panel of a mesh-type material such asa nylon or polyester mesh, folded against each other in such a way toform multiple open top pockets, the formed inner pocket being opaquewhile the formed outer pockets have a presenting side of mesh-typematerial so that the contents of the outer pockets can be easilydiscerned. Additionally, the outer mesh panel forms a opening flap forthe open top pockets that allows for easy insertion and removal ofcontainables, but which once the user's hand is removed, readily resumesa position occluding the open top pockets thus providing a securingmeans without the use of a fastener as such, and whereby the contents ofthe bag are retained either in an inverted hanging position, or in thecase of the bag resting on the side, as for example, when stored in akitchen drawer.

Thus a primary object of the present invention is to provide a means ofstoring plastic kitchen lids in a convenient space saving manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means forstoring any small items of a substantially planar shape that may bestorably positioned one in front of the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bag;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the bag taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the bag that is the obverse of that in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the present invention being utilizedwith the opening flap in retracted position;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the bag in an inverted hangingposition;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the bag resting on the side;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 Illustrates a plan view of the bag 10′ showing side seams 53 and54 which are through sewn to join panels 42 and 44 to each other. Shownalso is hem line 60 which serves to keep flap 52 from fraying.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1before the stitching of the bag. Bag 10′ includes two fabric panels 42,and 44, which are folded back against each other to form pockets 46, 48,and 50 for receipt of low profile containables. Each of the pockets 46,48, and 50 have open tops, and all are normally occluded by a flap 52,which is a continuation of panel 42 that extends over the mouths of theopen tops. Panel 44 is made of a opaque material. In the preferredembodiment, this is of the cotton canvas type, but is it understood bythose skilled in the art that there are many types of materials whichwould be found suitable for this purpose. Panel 42 is made of mesh typefabric to render discernable those containables housed in the outermostformed pockets.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the bag that is the obverse of thatshown in FIG. 1, and shows the two straight vertical sews 53 and 54along the sides of the bag that pass through panels 42 and 44 and jointhem together to form the plurality of open top pockets.

FIG. 4 shows the bag in a typical use where containables are beinginserted or removed from the bag where flap 52 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 andFIG. 5 is hidden from view in a retracted position thus exposing themouths of the open top pockets 50, 48 and 46. Containables are easy toremove or insert once flap 52 is pulled back and the sides of the bagare pulled inwards. Flap 52 readily resumes a position occluding themouths of the open top pockets 50, 48 and 46 once the user's hand isremoved.

In FIG. 5, flap 52 prevents the containables within the bag from fallingout when the bag is hung by grommet 55. This retention feature avoidsthe necessity of some type of fastener to retain the pockets in a closedposition and provides a quick way to access the interior of the bag 10′.Furthermore, the position of the grommet 55 opposite the open mouthpockets is significant inasmuch as it enables a wider opening to theopen mouth pockets than if it were placed on the same side as the pocketmouths. FIG. 6 shows the bag resting on the side with side seam 54 andwith flap 52 shown occluding the open top pockets. In this manner, thebag is able to retain the containables even while resting on the side aswould be the case when storing in a kitchen cabinet or drawer.

While the invention has been described in connection with only a singleembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A sewn cloth storage bag having sides, and a top and bottom edge forthe containment of plastic-ware lids and similarly shaped itemscomprising: a series of fabric panels folded back upon itself at leastthree times in a U-shape form, forming a plurality of open-top pockets,one in front of the other, and one behind the other, said panels beingconnected to one another by two straight vertical sews along said sidesof storage bag.
 2. The sewn cloth storage bag of claim 1 wherein saidseries of fabric panels folded back upon itself in a U-shape form aplurality of three open mouth pockets, one in front of the other, andone behind the other, the outermost panel being made of a mesh fabricand forming a flap which may be retracted to insert or remove plasticlids, but otherwise resumes a closed state occluding said open mouthpockets to secure said storage bag contents; and a grommet placed in acorner opposite said open mouth pockets to optionally hang said storagebag in an inverted position.